5 ms·

I think a similar analysis could be made of The Simpsons, which (as the post mentions) started around the same time. While later retconned, it used to be the ca

I think a similar analysis could be made of The Simpsons, which (as the post mentions) started around the same time. While later retconned, it used to be the case that Homer could afford a house and sustain a family as the sole breadwinner and without a college degree. Edit 1 hour later: looks like the fine folks at /r/askhistorians have answered that too: https://old.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/ol1uv6/the_simpson_family_was_supposed_to_represent_the/h5c740t/ https://old.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/ol1uv6/the_s...

Aunche 3y ago
Even when the Simpsons first aired, I highly doubt that you could get a job as a nuclear safety inspector without a college degree or highly specialized training like in the military.
- Probiotic6081 3y ago
  Cartoons don't have to be 100% realistic.
- yuppie_scum 3y ago
  Burns made him safety director and gave him a raise strictly as a PR move. (S1E3 Homer’s Odyssey)
Obscurity4340 3y ago
Isnt Homet unionized at the plant? How can he be like low-paid doing anything nuclear? He's a nuclear safety inspector
- Obscurity4340 3y ago
  Mr. Burns has never been one I associated with regulatory capture =D
tptacek 3y ago
It was a throwaway gag on the Tracey Ullman show; I doubt much thought was put into the "interchangeable suburban house" they came up with, or Homer's income as a nuclear plant technician.
mynameishere 3y ago
Homer paid for the house by getting his father to sell his own. https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSimpsons/comments/n06qbb/you_didnt_build_this_house_you_won_it_in_a/ https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSimpsons/comments/n06qbb/you_did... But Homer's incapacity to pay for it was of course dwelt upon: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&mid=3BEE8174E59C7B29F9783BEE8174E59C7B29F978&&FORM=VRDGAR https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&mid=3BEE... (Note above hack to get around youtube's new no-ad blockers policy.)
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
sien 3y ago
From Austan Goolsbee President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago : This combines 2 things that tick me off: not checking data & not knowing The Simpsons 2023: Nuclear technician salary in IL: $93,210 4 bedroom house in Springfield IL: $220,000 Burns illegally put him in a job req. a nuclear phys degree so he went to college in season 5 ep. 3 source: https://twitter.com/Austan_Goolsbee/status/1673901188528439296 https://twitter.com/Austan_Goolsbee/status/16739011885284392...
- PrimeMcFly 3y ago
  More importantly Springfield is in Oregon, not IL.
  - ethbr1 3y ago
    Technically, it's "everyman's Springfield", which is the one in your state. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-simpsons-creator-matt-groening-reveals-location-of-springfield/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-simpsons-creator-matt-groen... It was named after the Springfield in Father Knows Best, which happened to be the one in Oregon. But it was chosen partly because it's so hilariously common. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_(toponym) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_(toponym)
    - PrimeMcFly 3y ago
      Groening has also said it's pretty much in Oregon, especially since so much in the fictional town is taken from there, where he grew up. Besides, among what we know is that it's on a coast, so it definitely can't be in Illinois. You can say the show has lots of contradictions, but Springfield being on a coast is pretty consistent.
      - ethbr1 3y ago
        He grew up in Portland, no? Which isn't coastal. Nor is Springfield, OR. In fact, if coastal is required that generally rules out Oregon as a candidate state. Not too many major coastal population centers of any name...
paulpauper 3y ago
yeah, what is overlooked is that homeownership rates are the same now as in the 80s. Prices are way up, but way more financing options, lower rates, long-term mortgages, fatter wages even adjusted for inflation, etc. Outside of certain metro areas, homes are still not that expensive.
ourmandave 3y ago
This is the same series where Bart has celebrated his 10th b'day at least 3 times.

Aunche 3y ago

Even when the Simpsons first aired, I highly doubt that you could get a job as a nuclear safety inspector without a college degree or highly specialized training like in the military.

Probiotic6081 3y ago
Cartoons don't have to be 100% realistic.
yuppie_scum 3y ago
Burns made him safety director and gave him a raise strictly as a PR move. (S1E3 Homer’s Odyssey)

Obscurity4340 3y ago

Isnt Homet unionized at the plant? How can he be like low-paid doing anything nuclear? He's a nuclear safety inspector

Obscurity4340 3y ago
Mr. Burns has never been one I associated with regulatory capture =D

tptacek 3y ago

It was a throwaway gag on the Tracey Ullman show; I doubt much thought was put into the "interchangeable suburban house" they came up with, or Homer's income as a nuclear plant technician.

mynameishere 3y ago

Homer paid for the house by getting his father to sell his own. https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSimpsons/comments/n06qbb/you_didnt_build_this_house_you_won_it_in_a/ https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSimpsons/comments/n06qbb/you_did... But Homer's incapacity to pay for it was of course dwelt upon: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&mid=3BEE8174E59C7B29F9783BEE8174E59C7B29F978&&FORM=VRDGAR https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&mid=3BEE... (Note above hack to get around youtube's new no-ad blockers policy.)

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

sien 3y ago

From Austan Goolsbee President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago : This combines 2 things that tick me off: not checking data & not knowing The Simpsons 2023: Nuclear technician salary in IL: $93,210 4 bedroom house in Springfield IL: $220,000 Burns illegally put him in a job req. a nuclear phys degree so he went to college in season 5 ep. 3 source: https://twitter.com/Austan_Goolsbee/status/1673901188528439296 https://twitter.com/Austan_Goolsbee/status/16739011885284392...

PrimeMcFly 3y ago
More importantly Springfield is in Oregon, not IL.
- ethbr1 3y ago
  Technically, it's "everyman's Springfield", which is the one in your state. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-simpsons-creator-matt-groening-reveals-location-of-springfield/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-simpsons-creator-matt-groen... It was named after the Springfield in Father Knows Best, which happened to be the one in Oregon. But it was chosen partly because it's so hilariously common. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_(toponym) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_(toponym)
  - PrimeMcFly 3y ago
    Groening has also said it's pretty much in Oregon, especially since so much in the fictional town is taken from there, where he grew up. Besides, among what we know is that it's on a coast, so it definitely can't be in Illinois. You can say the show has lots of contradictions, but Springfield being on a coast is pretty consistent.
    - ethbr1 3y ago
      He grew up in Portland, no? Which isn't coastal. Nor is Springfield, OR. In fact, if coastal is required that generally rules out Oregon as a candidate state. Not too many major coastal population centers of any name...

paulpauper 3y ago

yeah, what is overlooked is that homeownership rates are the same now as in the 80s. Prices are way up, but way more financing options, lower rates, long-term mortgages, fatter wages even adjusted for inflation, etc. Outside of certain metro areas, homes are still not that expensive.

ourmandave 3y ago

This is the same series where Bart has celebrated his 10th b'day at least 3 times.